Globalization and social movements in north India: A comparative analysis of select agitations for justice

This paper deals with globalization and social movements in India by undertaking a comparative analysis of three contrasting agitations for justice in north India, namely, anti-corruption and anti-rape agitations in Delhi and, pro-reservation agitations in Haryana and Rajasthan. It explains how globalization has come to inform the agendas of these three agitations. In so doing, an attempt is made to compare and contrast the nature of various contributing factors for the agitations such as ideology, leadership, organization, participation, and state responses. Following this, the paper points out commonalities in these agitations and then it tries to highlight the impact of globalization on them. Next, it submits a dialectical relationship between globalization and social movements in India. It suggests that this relationship is characterized by growing discontentment in civil society, which is contributing for changing trends of mass mobilization in north India. The paper ends with a concluding remark on new social movements in India. The paper is based on online and offline media reports and archival sources such as books, journals, various governmental and non-governmental research organizations’ reports etc.